Englewood council OKs budget boosting taxes for first time in four years

By KIM LUEDDEKE

staff writer |

The Record

ENGLEWOOD – The City Council has adopted a $60.2 million budget for 2014 that will raise municipal taxes for the first time in four years.

Annual property taxes for the city homeowner assessed at the city’s average of $458,000 will go up $51.75, an increase of approximately 1.1 percent, according to information supplied by city officials.

“It’s frustrating,” Council President Lynne Algrant said of the tax increase, adding “I don’t know any organization that can stay at exactly the same cost for years and years and years.”

The budget was passed last week by a vote of 3-2. Councilmen Michael Cohen and Marc Forman voted against it, with Cohen objecting to what he called a “dramatic tax increase.” Cohen had previously called on the council to keep taxes flat this year.

With residents still struggling financially, he said, “This budget sends the message that we simply don’t care.”

The factors driving the increase, according to Algrant, include the reopening of the John T. Wright Ice Arena, payouts to retiring employees like Police Chief Arthur O’Keefe, and growing expenses such as employee salaries and benefits. The city is also investing more in its recreation programs, Algrant said.

The ice rink reopened in late December, nearly two years after Superstorm Sandy shredded its roof and forced it to close indefinitely. Approximately $225,000 was budgeted this year to run the rink, which closed in March and will reopen for the winter season in October.

The city has so far taken in about $60,000 in revenue from the rink this year. Based on that amount, city officials budgeted revenue of $120,000 from the rink, though they hope to earn enough to cover the full cost of operating the arena, said City Manager Tim Dacey.

The city must also pay $182,542 to O’Keefe, who retired last year, said Dacey. O’Keefe had originally intended to take the payment – primarily for unused sick time – over a two-year period, but later elected to receive the full amount this year, said Dacey.

The city’s recreation budget is increasing by about a third, from $823,000 in 2013 to nearly $1.1 million this year, according to budget documents.

“We’re looking to grow our recreation programs,” said Algrant.

In an effort to encourage greater participation in those programs, some of which are under-utilized, the city has implemented a “huge” marketing program, said Algrant.

Recreation fees for soccer, baseball, football, track and basketball are being cut by a third, Dacey said. Councilman Eugene Skurnick last week said he would have liked to see the fees reduced even further.

Weekday hours at the Tryon Avenue pool, which were added at Skurnick’s request last year, are also being cut due to a lack of demand, Dacey said. The pool will remain open Friday through Sunday. The $60,000 that had been used to run the pool during the week will be used for the ice rink instead, Dacey said.

Englewood council OKs budget boosting taxes for first time in four years

By KIM LUEDDEKE

staff writer |

The Record

ENGLEWOOD – The City Council has adopted a $60.2 million budget for 2014 that will raise municipal taxes for the first time in four years.

Annual property taxes for the city homeowner assessed at the city’s average of $458,000 will go up $51.75, an increase of approximately 1.1 percent, according to information supplied by city officials.

“It’s frustrating,” Council President Lynne Algrant said of the tax increase, adding “I don’t know any organization that can stay at exactly the same cost for years and years and years.”

The budget was passed last week by a vote of 3-2. Councilmen Michael Cohen and Marc Forman voted against it, with Cohen objecting to what he called a “dramatic tax increase.” Cohen had previously called on the council to keep taxes flat this year.

With residents still struggling financially, he said, “This budget sends the message that we simply don’t care.”

The factors driving the increase, according to Algrant, include the reopening of the John T. Wright Ice Arena, payouts to retiring employees like Police Chief Arthur O’Keefe, and growing expenses such as employee salaries and benefits. The city is also investing more in its recreation programs, Algrant said.

The ice rink reopened in late December, nearly two years after Superstorm Sandy shredded its roof and forced it to close indefinitely. Approximately $225,000 was budgeted this year to run the rink, which closed in March and will reopen for the winter season in October.

The city has so far taken in about $60,000 in revenue from the rink this year. Based on that amount, city officials budgeted revenue of $120,000 from the rink, though they hope to earn enough to cover the full cost of operating the arena, said City Manager Tim Dacey.

The city must also pay $182,542 to O’Keefe, who retired last year, said Dacey. O’Keefe had originally intended to take the payment – primarily for unused sick time – over a two-year period, but later elected to receive the full amount this year, said Dacey.

The city’s recreation budget is increasing by about a third, from $823,000 in 2013 to nearly $1.1 million this year, according to budget documents.

“We’re looking to grow our recreation programs,” said Algrant.

In an effort to encourage greater participation in those programs, some of which are under-utilized, the city has implemented a “huge” marketing program, said Algrant.

Recreation fees for soccer, baseball, football, track and basketball are being cut by a third, Dacey said. Councilman Eugene Skurnick last week said he would have liked to see the fees reduced even further.

Weekday hours at the Tryon Avenue pool, which were added at Skurnick’s request last year, are also being cut due to a lack of demand, Dacey said. The pool will remain open Friday through Sunday. The $60,000 that had been used to run the pool during the week will be used for the ice rink instead, Dacey said.